EFFECT OF SELECTED FORAGE LEGUMES ON SOIL QUALITY AND MAIZE YIELD IN THE SAVANNA
EFFECT OF SELECTED FORAGE LEGUMES ON SOIL QUALITY AND MAIZE YIELD IN THE SAVANNA
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Date
2012-03
Authors
Oluwaseun, Ola JEKAIYE
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Abstract
Study on the effect of selected forage legume on soil quality and maize yield in the Guinea
Savanna was conducted in Ahmadu Bello University Farm, Samaru, Zaria (longitudes 7o 301
and 7o 501 E and latitudes 11o 001 and 11o 101) Nigeria in the year 2008 to 2009. The study
involved planting two forage legumes; Centrosema Pascuorum (Cp) and Macrotyloma
uniflorum (Mu) as the main plots. A natural vegetation regrowth was used as control. The
treatments consisted of factorial combination of Nitrogen rates (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1)
and Phosphorus rates (0, 13.2 and 26.4 kg ha-1) imposed as sub-plots. Data obtained were
evaluated on a split plot design for soil chemical [organic carbon, available phosphorus, total
nitrogen, soil carbon fraction, CEC, soil pH, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, Na, K) and micro
nutrients (Zn, Mn, Fe) ] properties measured. Crop phrenology (plant height, leaf number,
maize stover yield, maize cob weight and grain yield), soil physical (bulk density, hydraulic
conductivity, particle size distribution, dry and wet aggregate stability and total porosity)
properties were also measured and soil microbial biomass (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and
particulate organic matter) were also measured. Results showed that, pre-maize planting soil
condition, Centrosema pascuorum planted (CPF) fallow significantly improved soil chemical
properties {Available phosphorus (10.50 mgkg-1), total nitrogen (0.88 g Kg-1), pH (6.0), CEC
(6.8 c /mol Kg-1), manganese (9.3 mg Kg-1), Iron (42.2 mg Kg-1 ), exchangeable calcium
(2.80 c /mol Kg-1), exchangeable sodium (0.68 c /mol Kg-1) and mean weight diameter (1.37
g) } compared to all other treatments. This indicates that Centrosema pascuorum planted
fallow is a better soil amendment than natural vegetation regrowth which gave lower
improvement in soil chemical properties {Available phosphorus (8.75 mgkg-1), total nitrogen
(0.53 g Kg-1), pH (5.9), CEC (5.0 c mol Kg-1 ), manganese (6.4 mg Kg-1), Iron (31.1 mg Kg-1
), exchangeable calcium (2.40 c mol Kg-1), and exchangeable sodium (0.58 c mol Kg-1) }.
Macrotyloma uniflorum planted fallow (MPF) slightly improved soil chemical properties
{Available phosphorus (5.25 mg kg-1), total nitrogen (0.35 g Kg-1), pH (6.0), CEC (6.6 c /mol
Kg-1), manganese (7.9 mg Kg-1), Iron (31.1 mg Kg-1), exchangeable calcium (2.40 c /mol Kg-
1), and exchangeable sodium (0.48 c /mol Kg-1) }. However, natural vegetation regrowth
contributed higher organic carbon (6.1 g Kg-1), exchangeable potassium (0.17 c /mol Kg-1)
and soil zinc (10.7 mg Kg-1) to the soil than CPF and MPF under one year fallow
management at pre-maize planting. Phosphorus application significantly influence soil
properties with 26.4 kg P ha-1 producing higher values among other rates, suggesting that
26.4 kg P ha-1 was optimal for maize production under the legume short fallow production.
This study therefore suggests the application of 80 Kg N ha-1 and 26.4 kg P ha-1 under the one
year Centrosema pascuorum planted fallow and one year maize cultivation as being the most
beneficial. The practice will ensure sustainable maize production, reduced (less than 120 Kg
N ha-1) the use of inorganic fertilizer for maize production and improve soil quality
Description
THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POST GRADUATE SCHOOL AHMADU
BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF
MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN SOIL SCIENCE.
DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE,
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA.
MARCH, 2012
Keywords
EFFECT,, SELECTED FORAGE LEGUMES,, SOIL,, QUALITY,, MAIZE YIELD,, SAVANNA.